Nabavi studied engineering at
Noshirvani University of Technology in
Babol, where he served on its Central Council of the Islamic Association. Shortly after, he was arrested at his home along with his cousin ,
Atefeh Nabavi. He was initially charged with "gathering and colluding against national security"; "propaganda against the system"; "disturbing public order"; and "
moharebeh" (enmity against God), as well as accused with being a member of the
People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, an Iranian dissident group. The charges were later reduced to "creating unease in the public mind", and he was given a sentence of 15 years in prison and 74
lashes. In May 2010, a successful appeal reduced his sentence to ten years. ==Imprisonment==